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THE  ORIGINAL  NESTORIAN  STONE. 

As  it  now  stands  in  the  Peilin  or  “Forest  of  Tablets”  in  Sianfu. 


THE 


NESTORIAN  MONUMENT 


AN  ANCIENT  RECORD  OF  CHRISTIANITY 
IN  CHINA 


WITH  SPECIAL  REFERENCE  TO  THE  EXPEDITION  OF 


FRITS  V.  HOLM 


MEMBER  OF  ROYAL  ASIATIC  SOCIETY,  LONDON,  ETC.,  ETC. 


EDITED 


DR.  PAUL  CARUS 


CONTAINING: 

MR.  HOLM’S  ACCOUNT  OF  HOW  THE  REPLICA  WAS  PROCURED,  THE  ORIGINAL 
CHINESE  TEXT  OF  THE  INSCRIPTION,  A.  WYLIE’S  ENGLISH 
TRANSLATION,  AND  HISTORICAL  NOTES 
ON  THE  NESTORIANS 


ILLUSTRATED 


REPRINTED  FROM  “THE  OPEN  COURT”  OF  JANUARY,  1909, 
WITH  NUMEROUS  ADDITIONS 


CHICAGO 

THE  OPEN  COURT  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 

1909 


COPYRIGHT  BY 

THE  OPEN  COURT  PUB.  CO. 
1909 


THE  CONTENTS  OF  THIS  BOOK. 


HE  Nestorian  monument  in  the  interior  of  China  is  of  extreme 


1 interest  to  all  students  of  religion,  especially  in  the  field  of 
the  history  of  Christian  missions.  It  was  set  up  in  781  A.  D.,  and 
since  it  was  discovered  by  accident  in  1625,  several  Chinese  and 
Western  scholars  have  made  it  the  object  of  their  inquiry. 

Mr.  Frits  V.  Holm  of  Denmark  has  recently  undertaken  the 
laborious  task  to  procure  a replica  of  the  stone  which  he  has  brought 
to  the  United  States. 

In  art  “replica”  means  an  exact  copy  of  the  original  made  by 
the  artist  himself.  For  simplicity’s  sake,  however,  we  follow  Mr. 
Holm  in  using  the  term  in  the  sense  that  his  copy  is  exactly  like 
the  original,  made  of  the  same  material  so  that  only  with  the  greatest 
difficulty  could  it  be  distinguished  from  the  original. 

The  present  little  book  contains  all  the  information  necessary 
for  a comprehension  of  the  significance  of  the  monument,  its  history, 
its  place  in  the  history  of  China  and  its  meaning  to  Christianity. 

The  contents  of  the  present  publication  are  as  follows: 

The  Original  Text  of  the  Nestorian  Monument. 

Translation  of  the  Nestorian  Inscription  by  A.  Wylie. 

The  Holm-Nestorian  Expedition  to  Sian  1907,  by  Frits  V. 
Holm  : followed  by  a Communication  on  tfie  Exploits  of  Mr.  Von 
Holm. 

Nestorius  and  the  Nestorians. 

The  Nestorians  in  China.  According  to  the  late  S.  Wells  Wil- 
liams. 


THE  ORIGINAL  TEXT  OF  THE  NESTORIAN 
MONUMENT. 


A A i£  3'J  ffii  — H 

in 

*tt£*R*lt***  fiS  4*  « 

.&  m ffl  y\  M A # H if 

w zu 

ff  mm  $w  pa  7t  ft  m t & fc  % 

* Bfatitnx'$r&  n m 'ikm  ^ 

h £ ~7tm  Htyt  ★ 

# P ft  * if  ® PI  tc  P - :f  it  im  7C  f& 
& *f  M 7C  * 13  E a & % % & i R 
f£  PI  # 2 ^ jtn  m # L £>  6 4$  $ 

# * P#  -fck  A g £ ^ M £ K % fi  * 


6 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


U £ '/K  f I55WI2 

^ ^ if  a li  f:  ^ 7^  pq 

ft  ® ^-7 1 if  )W  0 

ffl-tftft  # a & rj  a tjt  w # it  n 
Hg  0#  m m ¥ & # i m = 

^ If  ft  & ffii  #f  ftg  4 t 0 li  m M w 

$ ^ A $ it  # if  $£  £ j#  a # ini  ^ 

$ k T>  £ Jt  5E  $r  & j£  ii  E -f 
^ $E  W.  ^ £]  ft*  ^ ^ Jf  |mJ  fit  W 5. 

% ^ t # FP  lI  ^ 

^ Jtf  St  4#  a £ 

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0|W^| 

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I f ^ 0 -b  || 

Bt  $ n a n m 

* M fi  vx  m m a $ a & 

£ 0 TI  £ 7C  a *1  yi  £ ^ # m 

M ftp) rlftf  ^ ffl  H ^ a ig 


& 


fx 

»f» 


® ft  it  ^ If 

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5E  ^ ^ it  t-  & 

ft  m % ft  i 


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t ifi l|S^ 
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i|  $ i f m m i 

**  n -*  ft  ^ ^ 

ifn  f#  f £§  ^ j| 


® a * t & 

B @ ft  B t ft 
Ji  ft  ft  - S El 
$ ft  # If  t£ 

asm  S a 


THE  ORIGINAL  TEXT. 


/ 


A ^ ii  A it  7C  3^  $ ffi  3 £ jfc  '1$ 


* «Z  * f * £ A * f # ft  # 

M ° af  * ^ £ - sf  $ & # m « i n 

$ P5  -t  A ft  If?  T' 

|r  jf£®j|fr&£^SMoPi&g2f 
4»  {&  fill  M W ft  2g  $ f£  ft  |&  || 


m m % 1 1 
# « & ft  ft  - m 

$ ft  $$  A #> 
/Uni  *>i 

ft  & it  # ^ A 
^ ^ II  g 

0 a tit  a t ff 
& M A £ # A 
W *.  illf 
t sip  jsi 
4^  i ^ ^ ?1 
ft  tn  & ft  £ ft) 

± a m mm 

# $£  $1  P1!  H ^ 
fg  t £ sf  # ft 
^ E & It  4 & 
m.  % 4b  1 M Vj 
±.  # $ jjff-  He  it 


it  0 0.  j|  A # 

tit 1^1 

» ft  ft  *•  ft  * 

ft  t ft  m a a 

$ # jt  s % it 

iK  ig  -t;  & ± ^ 

± & 1 * m ft 

ft  t » * 0 fg 

# ft  £p  $ irpf  a 

ft  li  JE  fife  II  T 

& H ft  % A PC 

H E £ P# 

£ % ^ # 

# ^!  if  & g a 

ft  81  ft  ^ rfn  ^ 

^ St  ^ ft  S * 

141 % M H 
ft  A t {£  0 ft 


8 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


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ffj]  % & ft  it  il  # 3§S  W ft  ti  is  % fa  ft 

$t  % M H & ft 

ffii  it  J®  il  ajl  .ft 


£ * p U ft  m ft 
t m n * ^ A £ 

^ M M 't  ® li 

it  yiq  fit  A A ft 
£ # $ ft  ft  3 
& 8!  ft  * il  E 
4?  i ft  ii  ft  ft 

® m n § it  g 

W * ® ».  £ # 
1 pT  # M-  ifi  ® 
4 ft  *L  « ft  |i 
ft  *T  £ ft  S j$ 

# i*  £ £ ft  gt 
7C  « ft  .ft  ft,  it 

# S 'Ik  $ H 

^ H '#  *$  B $ij 

fin  >F  0 [ ^ 10  nr 
is  it  i ^ @ ^ 
*t  Jft  & ^ t?  0 

w # it  i it  n 

A ^T  $j  If  H iff 

IS  it  fit  if  'a'  Ifc 


tilt 

£*§  >k  IS  M M <S  fj 

if  M ^ ||  7ft  rji 

# *1  ill  IH  g 

m i f§  P A ^ $ 

i®  fif  2£  J5|  ii  ^r 

rfn  A $ D $ ft 

it  ^ 3fc  # & If 

if.  il  ^ ® ft  p 

+ -i 

ft  $ A ii  £ 

3E  £i  ^ 0 f| 

fl  #J  A £< 

A ^ "F  ft 

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i®  & & ^ 86  jf| 

# * if  m w : * 

*.**»*.« 
ft  • « & * ft 

21  & ft  ffl  ft  If 


THE  ORIGINAL  TEXT. 


9 


* 


fx 

* 


5 .IS  A fp  $ 1!^  DT  A fit  fft  # 4 ft 

$ m 

# » « 6.  # ^ ft  $ s 9 . n a m * 

* je  3 a & f e 1 ft  «i  a * * # 55 

M % fh  M -7  i ft  4 ^ # jf  g |i  jg 

Ik  # if-  fr  fit  # 0>  A # ?i  ft  ft  £ t 

? H n ^ t »f  jtt  # ^ ^ x /t  fee 

^ fe  £ ®3  j&  & $|  ± |&  ft  'll  j£  H g| 

_•  > . rm  *r+  0 O 0 

/ ia.  -f-A-  ks4  nr  .i-i  m 1 -.  .1 1.  ^ 1 -v  . . - 


mi  r:  '*  *a  wj  ip  & /u  & m //?  m ?z.  $• 
^Mf  tfH£  ^ it  ri  fd  m Ik  A A $ $ 

^ I # ? g 1 X%  & £ M • W I'J  3 

* ® •#  & f /£  If  0 * « $ ll  iti  4 

^ ^ 4 b£  ^ ^ =t  $ ® it  # If  $ |A 

^ ft  M ft  # # g ■%  -If  * |£j  £ |^ 

< £ J*  m ft  M £ JS  g ft  i fg  2 

^ ^ 7;  & ill  2 gij 

^ » - « $1  + « f # ri  1 m * ii 

* {ft  ft  ^ £ t $ ^ $ b#  m.  vx  ft  a 

f ft  ^ p^Pxii f< n & ^ 

J ^ ^ B M $ «f*  $ iTf  I gg  xi 

^ $ # 1$  ui*  id  1 s t if  # t $ 


IO 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


m k - tt  n m ® 1011 

m life!  & «g  0 it  m B In 

£[S  & ft  % fyi ®|  M ^ ^ 

^ ^ t ^ ^ a ± # n % 0w  i % 

if  il  t"  A Ml  IrJ  Pt  I 0 ® ^ k 

U k £ £ 3l  Bi3  £ $fc  * f§  H ft  k ffl 

Ml  m & M ^ W ^ ^ % Wt  ® Mr 

n t Mt  s ^ & it  ft  £ jpp 

* & ri  s # & $ £ & m % f & 

* g 5g  ff  ift  #j  £ ee  |fc  ft  $5  3ft  %>  & 

^ $ W M % ft  %k  APS®  if  ^ t 

fef  * ^ HO  H a ft  & 1 t * ^ ± 

H t#  $ 3t  #.  ’Ml  5fc  ft  & il  ft  ^ E 4s- 

^ & 7C  ttf  j£  ^ ft  Jg  H + & HL  ft  fi 

* 3£  « 1ft  ft  a Jk  0 IE  ± & K is  £ 

ft  * ^ R9  ft  Wi  MWmfc  H'i  ^ A 

^ ft  ft  Jg  *ft  & * $ il  '6'  i ^ ft 

fe  & 1#  it! 

*»  + $»#£$*?  fl  £ HI  # & 

& n <j£  ^ It-  $ ^ ^ ^ It1  & IP  W 


■ft 


TT 

* 


^ M -S  E ^ la  if  f^l  Si  tM  VJ* 

2.  t ff  ® % M 51  ft  *fc  IP  ^ ft;  & 

m & ^ H # f£  *?  % ^ £ jfn  # ^ 

^ ff  i®A*^l.iAJiJ*|>^  ^1 

11  = 1 fk  k n i if  m m m n 


TRANSLATION  OF  THE  NESTORIAN  INSCRIP- 
TION. 

BY  A.  WYLIE. 

Tablet  Eulogizing  the  Propagation  of  the  Illustrious  Religion  in 
China , With  a Preface ; Composed  by  Kin g-T sing, 

A Priest  of  the  Syrian  Church. 

BEHOLD  the  unchangeably  true  and  invisible,  who  existed  through 
all  eternity  without  origin;  the  far-seeing  perfect  intelligence, 
whose  mysterious  existence  is  everlasting;  operating  on  primordial 
substance  he  created  the  universe,  being  more  excellent  than  all  holy 
intelligences,  inasmuch  as  he  is  the  source  of  all  that  is  honorable. 
This  is  our  eternal  true  lord  God,  triune  and  mysterious  in  sub- 
stance. He  appointed  the  cross  as  the  means  for  determining  the 
four  cardinal  points,  he  moved  the  original  spirit,  and  produced  the 
two  principles  of  nature ; the  sombre  void  was  changed,  and  heaven 
and  earth  were  opened  out ; the  sun  and  moon  revolved,  and  day  and 
night  commenced;  having  perfected  all  inferior  objects,  he  then 
made  the  first  man ; upon  him  he  bestowed  an  excellent  disposition, 
giving  him  in  charge  the  government  of  all  created  beings;  man, 
acting  out  the  original  principles  of  his  nature,  was  pure  and  unosten- 
tatious ; his  unsullied  and  expansive  mind  was  free  from  the  least 
inordinate  desire;  until  Satan  introduced  the  seeds  of  falsehood,  to 
deteriorate  his  purity  of  principle ; the  opening  thus  commenced  in  his 
virtue  gradually  enlarged,  and  by  this  crevice  in  his  nature  was  ob- 
scured and  rendered  vicious ; hence  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  sects 
followed  each  other  in  continuous  track,  inventing  every  species  of 
doctrinal  complexity;  while  some  pointed  to  material  objects  as  the 
source  of  their  faith,  others  reduced  all  to  vacancy,  even  to  the  an- 
nihilation of  the  two  primeval  principles ; some  sought  to  call  down 
blessings  by  prayers  and  supplications,  while  others  by  an  assumption 
of  excellence  held  themselves  up  as  superior  to  their  fellows ; their 


12 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


intellects  and  thoughts  continually  wavering,  their  minds  and  affec- 
tions incessantly  on  the  move,  they  never  obtained  their  vast  desires, 
but  being  exhausted  and  distressed  they  revolved  in  their  own  heated 
atmosphere ; till  by  an  accumulation  of  obscurity  they  lost  their  path, 
and  after  long  groping  in  darkness  they  were  unable  to  return. 
Thereupon,  our  Trinity  being  divided  in  nature,  the  illustrious  and 
honorable  Messiah,  veiling  his  true  dignity,  appeared  in  the  world 
as  a man ; angelic  powers  promulgated  the  glad  tidings,  a virgin 
gave  birth  to  the  Holy  One  in  Syria ; a bright  star  announced  the 
felicitous  event,  and  Persians1  observing  the  splendor  came  to  pre- 
sent tribute ; the  ancient  dispensation,  as  declared  by  the  twenty-four 
holy  men,2  was  then  fulfilled,  and  he  laid  down  great  principles  for 
the  government  of  families  and  kingdoms ; he  established  the  new 
religion  of  the  silent  operation  of  the  pure  spirit  of  the  Triune;  he 
rendered  virtue  subservient  to  direct  faith ; he  fixed  the  extent  of  the 
eight  boundaries,3  thus  completing  the  truth  and  freeing  it  from 
dross;  he  opened  the  gate  of  the  three  constant  principles,4  intro- 
ducing life  and  destroying  death;  he  suspended  the  bright  sun  to 
invade  the  chambers  of  darkness,  and  the  falsehoods  of  the  devil 
were  thereupon  defeated;  he  set  in  motion  the  vessel  of  mercy  by 
which  to  ascend  to  the  bright  mansions,  whereupon  rational  beings 
were  then  released,  having  thus  completed  the  manifestation  of  his 
power,  in  clear  day  he  ascended  to  his  true  station.  Twenty-seven 
sacred  books5  have  been  left,  which  disseminate  intelligence  by  un- 
folding the  original  transforming  principles.  By  the  rule  for  ad- 
mission, it  is  the  custom  to  apply  the  water  of  baptism,  to  wash  away 
all  superficial  show  and  to  cleanse  and  purify  the  neophytes.  As  a 
seal,  they  hold  the  cross,  whose  influence  is  reflected  in  every  direc- 
tion, uniting  all  without  distinction.  As  they  strike  the  wood,  the 
fame  of  their  benevolence  is  diffused  abroad ; worshiping  toward  the 
east,  they  hasten  on  the  way  to  life  and  glory;  they  preserve  the 
beard  to  symbolize  their  outward  actions,  they  shave  the  crown  to 

1 Po-ss* , “Persians.”  This  name  was  well  known  to  the  Chinese  at  that 
time,  being  the  designation  of  an  extensive  sect  then  located  in  the  Empire, 
and  the  name  of  a nation  with  which  they  had  held  commercial  and  political 
intercourse  for  several  centuries.  The  statement  here  is  in  admirable  har- 
mony with  the  general  tradition  of  the  early  Church,  that  the  Magi  or  wise 
men  mentioned  in  Matthew’s  Gospel  were  no  other  than  philosophers  of  the 
Parsee  sect. 

2 The  “holy  men”  denote  the  writers  of  the  books  of  the  Old  Testament. 

3 The  “eight  boundaries”  are  inexplicable;  some  refer  them  to  the  beati- 
tudes. 

4 The  “three  constant  principles”  may  perhaps  mean  faith,  hope,  and  char- 
ity. 

“Exactly  the  number  we  have  in  the  New  Testament. 


TRANSLATION  OF  THE  INSCRIPTION. 


13 


indicate  the  absence  of  inward  affections ; they  do  not  keep  slaves, 
but  put  noble  and  mean  all  on  an  equality ; they  do  not  amass  wealth, 
but  cast  all  their  property  into  the  common  stock ; they  fast,  in  order 
to  perfect  themselves  by  self-inspection ; they  submit  to  restraints, 
in  order  to  strengthen  themselves  by  silent  watchfulness ; seven  times 
a day  they  have  worship  and  praise  for  the  benefit  of  the  living  and 
the  dead ; once  in  seven  days  they  sacrifice,  to  cleanse  the  heart  and 
return  to  purity. 

It  is  difficult  to  find  a name  to  express  the  excellence  of  the  true 
and  unchangeable  doctrine;  but  as  its  meritorious  operations  are 
manifestly  displayed,  by  accommodation  it  is  named  the  Illustrious 
Religion.  Now  without  holy  men,  principles  cannot  become  ex- 
panded ; without  principles,  holy  men  cannot  become  magnified ; but 
with  holy  men  and  right  principles,  united  as  the  two  parts  of  a 
signet,  the  world  becomes  civilized  and  enlightened. 

In  the  time  of  the  accomplished  Emperor  Taitsung,  the  illustrious 
and  magnificent  founder  of  the  dynasty,  among  the  enlightened  and 
holy  men  who  arrived  was  the  Most-virtuous  Olopun,  from  the 
country  of  Syria.  Observing  the  azure  clouds,  he  bore  the  true 
sacred  books ; beholding  the  direction  of  the  winds,  he  braved  diffi- 
culties and  dangers.  In  the  year  A.  D.  635  he  arrived  at  Chang-an ; 
the  Emperor  sent  his  Prime  Minister,  Duke  Fang  Hiuen-ling;  who, 
carrying  the  official  staff  to  the  west  border,  conducted  his  guest 
into  the  interior ; the  sacred  books  were  translated  in  the  imperial  li- 
brary, the  sovereign  investigated  the  subj  ect  in  his  private  apartments ; 
when  becoming  deeply  impressed  with  the  rectitude  and  truth  of  the 
religion,  he  gave  special  orders  for  its  dissemination.  In  the  seventh 
month  of  the  year  A.  D.  638  the  following  imperial  proclamation 
was  issued: 

“Right  principles  have  no  invariable  name,  holy  men  have  no 
invariable  station;  instruction  is  established  in  accordance  with  the 
locality,  with  the  object  of  benefiting  the  people  at  large.  The 
Greatly-virtuous  Olopun,  of  the  kingdom  of  Syria,  has  brought  his 
sacred  books  and  images  from  that  distant  part,  and  has  presented 
them  at  our  chief  capital.  Having  examined  the  principles  of  this 
religion,  we  find  them  to  be  purely  excellent  and  natural ; investi- 
gating its  originating  source,  we  find  it  has  taken  its  rise  from  the 
establishment  of  important  truths ; its  ritual  is  free  from  perplexing 
expressions,  its  principles  will  survive  when  the  framework  is  forgot ; 
it  is  beneficial  to  all  creatures ; it  is  advantageous  to  mankind.  Let 
it  be  published  throughout  the  Empire,  and  let  the  proper  authority 
build  a Syrian  church  in  the  capital  in  the  I-ning  May,  which  shall 


14 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


be  governed  by  twenty-one  priests.  When  the  virtue  of  the  Chau 
dynasty  declined,  the  rider  on  the  azure  ox  ascended  to  the  west ; the 
principles  of  the  great  Tang  becoming  resplendent,  the  Illustrious 
breezes  have  come  to  fan  the  East.” 

Orders  were  then  issued  to  the  authorities  to  have  a true  portrait 
of  the  Emperor  taken ; when  it  was  transferred  to  the  wall  of  the 
church,  the  dazzling  splendor  of  the  celestial  visage  irradiated  the 
Illustrious  portals.  The  sacred  traces  emitted  a felicitous  influence, 
and  shed  a perpetual  splendor  over  the  holy  precincts.  According  to 
the  Illustrated  Memoir  of  the  Western  Regions,  and  the  historical 
books  of  the  Han  and  Wei  dynasties,  the  kingdom  of  Syria  reaches 
south  to  the  Coral  Sea ; on  the  north  it  joins  the  Gem  Mountains ; on 
the  west  it  extends  toward  the  borders  of  the  immortals  and  the 
flowery  forests ; on  the  east  it  lies  open  to  the  violent  winds  and 
tideless  waters.  The  country  produces  fire-proof  cloth,  life-restoring 
incense,  bright  moon-pearls,  and  night-lustre  gems.  Brigands  and 
robbers  are  unknown,  but  the  people  enjoy  happiness  and  peace. 
None  but  Illustrious  laws  prevail ; none  but  the  virtuous  are  raised 
to  sovereign  power.  The  land  is  broad  and  ample,  and  its  literary 
productions  are  perspicuous  and  clear. 

The  Emperor  Kautsung  respectfully  succeeded  his  ancestor,  and 
was  still  more  beneficent  toward  the  institution  of  truth.  In  every 
province  he  caused  Illustrious  churches  to  be  erected,  and  ratified 
the  honor  conferred  upon  Olopun,  making  him  the  great  conservator 
of  doctrine  for  the  preservation  of  the  State.  While  this  doctrine 
pervaded  every  channel,  the  State  became  enriched  and  tranquility 
abounded.  Every  city  was  full  of  churches,  and  the  royal  family 
enjoyed  lustre  and  happiness.  In  the  year  A.  D.  699  the  Buddhists, 
gaining  power,  raised  their  voices  in  the  eastern  metropolis  ;6  in  the 
year  A.  D.  713,  some  low  fellows  excited  ridicule  and  spread ‘slanders 
in  the  western  capital.  At  that  time  there  was  the  chief  priest  Lo- 
han,  the  Greatly- virtuous  Kie-leih,  and  others  of  noble  estate  from 
the  golden  regions,  lofty-minded  priests,  having  abandoned  all  worldly 
interests ; who  unitedly  maintained  the  grand  principles  and  pre- 
served them  entire  to  the  end. 

The  high-principled  Emperor  Hiuentsung  caused  the  Prince  of 
Ning  and  others,  five  princes  in  all,  personally  to  visit  the  felicitous 
edifice ; he  established  the  place  of  worship ; he  restored  the  con- 

8 “Eastern  metropolis”  is  Tung  Chau , literally  “Eastern  Chau.”  The  Em- 
pire was  at  this  time  under  the  government  of  the  Empress  Wu  Tsih-tien,  who 
had  removed  her  residence  from  Chang-an  [Sian-fu]  to  Lohyang  in  Honan. 


TRANSLATION  OF  THE  INSCRIPTION. 


15 


secrated  timbers  which  had  been  temporarily  thrown  down ; and  re- 
erected the  sacred  stones  which  for  a time  had  been  desecrated. 

In  742  orders  were  given  to  the  great  general  Kau  Lih-sz’,  to 
send  the  five  sacred  portraits  and  have  them  placed  in  the  church, 
and  a gift  of  a hundred  pieces  of  silk  accompanied  these  pictures  of 
intelligence.  Although  the  dragon’s  beard  was  then  remote,  their 
bows  and  swords  were  still  within  reach ; while  the  solar  horns  sent 
forth  their  rays,  and  celestial  visages  seemed  close  at  hand.7 

In  744  the  priest  Kih-ho,  in  the  kingdom  of  Syria,  looking 
toward  the  star  (of  China),  was  attracted  by  its  transforming  in- 
fluence, and  observing  the  sun  (i.  e.,  Emperor),  came  to  pay  court 
to  the  most  honorable.  The  Emperor  commanded  the  priest  Lo-han, 
the  priest  Pu-lun,  and  others,  seven  in  all,  together  with  the  Greatly- 
virtuous  Kih-ho,  to  perform  a sendee  of  merit  in  the  Hing-king 
palace.  Thereupon  the  Emperor  composed  mottoes  for  the  sides  of 
the  church,  and  the  tablets  were  graced  with  the  royal  inscriptions ; 
the  accumulated  gems  emitted  their  effulgence,  while  their  sparkling 
brightness  vied  with  the  ruby  clouds ; the  transcripts  of  intelligence 
suspended  in  the  void  shot  forth  their  rays  as  reflected  by  the  sun ; 
the  bountiful  gifts  exceeded  the  height  of  the  southern  hills ; the  be- 
dewing favors  were  deep  as  the  eastern  sea.  Nothing  is  beyond  the 
range  of  the  right  principle,  and  what  is  permissible  may  be  identi- 
fied ; nothing  is  beyond  the  power  of  the  holy  man,  and  that  which 
is  practicable  may  be  related. 

The  accomplished  and  enlightened  Emperor  Suhtsung  rebuilt 
the  Illustrious  churches  in  Ling-wu  and  four  other  places ; great 
benefits  were  conferred,  and  felicity  began  to  increase ; great  munifi- 
cence was  displayed,  and  the  imperial  State  became  established. 

The  accomplished  and  military  Emperor.  Taitsung  magnified  the 
sacred  succession,  and  honored  the  latent  principle  of  nature ; always, 
on  the  incarnation-day,  he  bestowTed  celestial  incense,  and  ordered 
the  performance  of  a service  of  merit ; he  distributed  of  the  imperial 
viands,  in  order  to  shed  a glory  on  the  Illustrious  Congregation. 
Heaven  is  munificent  in  the  dissemination  of  blessings,  whereby  the 
benefits  of  life  are  extended ; the  holy  man  embodies  the  original 
principle  of  virtue,  whence  he  is  able  to  counteract  noxious  influ- 
ences. 

Our  sacred  and  sage-like,  accomplished  and  military  Emperor 
Kienchung  appointed  the  eight  branches  of  government,  according 

7 These  personages  are  the  first  five  emperors  of  the  Tang  dynasty,  Hiuen- 
tsung’s  predecessors.  Their  portraits  were  so  admirably  painted  that  they 
seemed  to  be  present,  their  arms  could  almost  be  handled,  and  their  foreheads, 
or  “horns  of  the  sun,”  radiated  their  intelligence. 


i6 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


to  which  he  advanced  or  degraded  the  intelligent  and  dull ; he  opened 
up  the  nine  categories,  by  means  of  which  he  renovated  the  illustrious 
decrees ; his  transforming  influence  pervaded  the  most  abstruse  prin- 
ciples, while  openness  of  heart  distinguished  his  devotions.  Thus, 
by  correct  and  enlarged  purity  of  principle,  and  undeviating  con- 
sistency in  sympathy  with  others ; by  extended  commiseration  res- 
cuing multitudes  from  misery,  while  disseminating  blessings  on 
all  around,  the  cultivation  of  our  doctrine  gained  a grand  basis,  and 
bv  gradual  advances  its  influence  was  diffused.  If  the  winds  and 
rains  are  seasonable, the  world  will  be  at  rest;  men  will  be  guided 
by  principle,  inferior  objects  will  be  pure;  the  living  will  be  at  ease, 
and  the  dead  will  rejoice ; the  thoughts  will  produce  their  appropriate 
response,  the  affections  will  be  free,  and  the  eyes  will  be  sincere ; 
such  is  the  laudable  condition  which  we  of  the  Illustrious  Religion 
are  laboring  to  attain. 

Our  great  benefactor,  the  Imperially-conferred-purple-gown 
priest,8  I-sz\  titular  Great  Statesman  of  the  Banqueting-house,  As- 
sociated Secondary  Military  Commissioner  for  the  Northern  Region, 
and  Examination-palace  Overseer,  was  naturally  mild  and  graciously 
disposed ; his  mind  susceptible  of  sound  doctrine,  he  was  diligent  in 
the  performance:  from  the  distant  city  of  Raj  agriha,9  he  came  to 
visit  China ; his  principles  more  lofty  than  those  of  the  three  dynas- 
ties, his  practice  was  perfect  in  every  department ; at  first  he  applied 
himself  to  duties  pertaining  to  the  palace,  eventually  his  name  was 
inscribed  on  the  military  roll.  When  the  Duke  Koh  Tsz’-i,  Secon- 
dary Minister  of  State  and  Prince  of  Fan-yang,  at  first  conducted 
the  military  in  the  northern  region,  the  Emperor  Suhtsung  made 
him  (I-sz’)  his  attendant  on  his  travels;  although  he  was  a private 
chamberlain,  he  assumed  no  distinction  on  the  march ; he  was  as 
claws  and  teeth  to  the  duke,  and  in  rousing  the  military  he  was  as  ears 
and  eyes ; he  distributed  the  wealth  conferred  upon  him,  not  accumu- 
lating treasure  for  his  private  use;  he  made  offerings  of  the  jewelry 
which  had  been  given  by  imperial  favor,  he  spread  out  a golden 

8 It  was  no  rare  occurrence  for  priests  to  occupy  civil  and  military  offices 
in  the  State  during  the  Tang  and  preceding  dynasties.  Of  the  three  titles  here 
given,  the  first  is  merely  an  indication  of  rank,  by  which  the  bearer  is  entitled 
to  a certain  emolument  from  the  State;  the  second  is  his  title  as  an  officer  ac- 
tively engaged  in  the  imperial  service;  and  the  third  is  an  honorary  title, 
which  gives  to  the  possessor  a certain  status  in  the  capital,  without  any  duties 
or  emolument  connected  therewith. 

9 Wang-shih,  literally  “Royal  residence,”  which  is  also  the  translation  of 
the  Sanskrit  word  Raj  agriha,  is  the  name  of  a city'-  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges, 
which  occurs  in  several  Buddhist  works.  As  this  was  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant of  the  Buddhist  cities  in  India,  it  is  natural  to  suppose  that  I-sz’  was  a 
Buddhist  priest. 


TRANSLATION  OF  THE  INSCRIPTION. 


17 


carpet  for  devotion ; now  he  repaired  the  old  churches,  anon  he  in- 
creased the  number  of  religious  establishments ; he  honored  and 
decorated  the  various  edifices,  till  they  resembled  the  plumage  of  the 
pheasant  in  its  flight ; moreover,  practising  the  discipline  of  the 
Illustrious  Religion,  he  distributed  his  riches  in  deeds  of  benevolence  ; 
every  year  he  assembled  those  in  the  sacred  office  from  four  churches, 
and  respectfully  engaged  them  for  fifty  days  in  purification  and  prep- 
aration ; the  naked  came  and  were  clothed ; the  sick  were  attended 
to  and  restored ; the  dead  were  buried  in  repose ; even  among  the 
most  pure  and  self-denying  of  the  Buddhists,  such  excellence  was 
never  heard  of ; the  white-clad  members  of  the  Illustrious  Congrega- 
tion, now  considering  these  men,  have  desired  to  engrave  a broad 
tablet,  in  order  to  set  forth  a eulogy  of  their  magnanimous  deeds. 

ODE. 

The  true  Lord  is  without  origin, 

Profound,  invisible,  and  unchangeable ; 

With  power  and  capacity  to  perfect  and  transform, 

He  raised  up  the  earth  and  established  the  heavens. 

Divided  in  nature,  he  entered  the  world, 

To  save  and  to  help  without  bounds ; 

The  sun  arose,  and  darkness  was  dispelled, 

All  bearing  witness  to  his  true  original. 

The  glorious  and  resplendent,  accomplished  Emperor, 

Whose  principles  embraced  those  of  preceding  monarchs, 
Taking  advantage  of  the  occasion,  suppressed  turbulence; 
Heaven  was  spread  out  and  the  earth  was  enlarged. 

When  the  pure,  bright  Illustrious  Religion 
Was  introduced  to  our  Tang  dynasty, 

The  Scriptures  were  translated,  and  churches  built, 

And  the  vessel  set  in  motion  for  the  living  and  the  dead  ; 
Every  kind  of  blessing  was  then  obtained, 

And  all  the  kingdoms  enjoyed  a state  of  peace. 

When  Kautsung  succeeded  to  his  ancestral  estate. 

He  rebuilt  the  edifices  of  purity ; 

Palaces  of  concord,  large  and  light, 

Covered  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land. 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


The  true  doctrine  was  clearly  announced, 

Overseers  of  the  church  were  appointed  in  due  form; 

The  people  enjoyed  happiness  and  peace, 

While  all  creatures  were  exempt  from  calamity  and  distress. 


When  Hiuentsung  commenced  his  sacred  career, 

He  applied  himself  to  the  cultivation  of  truth  and  rectitude ; 
His  imperial  tablets  shot  forth  their  effulgence, 

And  the  celestial  writings  mutually  reflected  their  splendors. 

The  imperial  domain  was  rich  and  luxuriant, 

While  the  whole  land  rendered  exalted  homage ; 

Every  business  was  flourishing  throughout,* 

And  the  people  all  enjoyed  prosperity. 

Then  came  Suhtsung,  who  commenced  anew, 

And  celestial  dignity  marked  the  imperial  movements. 
Sacred  as  the  moon’s  unsullied  expanse, 

While  felicity  was  wafted  like  nocturnal  gales. 

Happiness  reverted  to  the  imperial  household. 

The  autumnal  influences  were  long  removed ; 

Ebullitions  were  allayed,  and  risings  suppressed, 

And  thus  our  dynasty  was  firmly  built  up. 


Taitsung  the  filial  and  just 

Combined  in  virtue  with  heaven  and  earth ; 

By  his  liberal  bequests  the  living  were  satisfied, 

And  property  formed  the  channel  of  imparting  succor. 

By  fragrant  mementoes  he  rewarded  the  meritorious, 
With  benevolence  he  dispensed  his  donations; 

The  solar  concave  appeared  in  dignity, 

And  the  lunar  retreat  was  decorated  to  extreme. 


When  Kienchung  succeeded  to  the  throne, 

He  began  the  cultivation  of  intelligent  virtue; 
His  military  vigilance  extended  to  the  four  seas, 
And  his  accomplished  purity  influenced  all  lands. 


TRANSLATION  OF  THE  INSCRIPTION. 


19 


His  light  penetrated  the  secrecies  of  men, 

And  to  him  the  diversities  of  objects  were  seen  as  in  a mirror; 

He  shed  a vivifying  influence  through  the  whole  realm  of  nature, 

And  all  outer  nations  took  him  for  example. 

The  true  doctrine  how  expansive! 

Its  responses  are  minute; 

How  difficult  to  name  it ! 

To  elucidate  the  three  in  one. 

The  sovereign  has  the  power  to  act ! 

While  the  ministers  record; 

We  raise  this  noble  monument! 

To  the  praise  of  great  felicity. 

This  was  erected  in  the  2d  year  of  Kienchung,  of  the  Tang 
dynasty  (A.  D.  781),  on  the  7th  day  of  the  1st  month,  being  Sunday. 

Written  by  Lu  Siu-yen,  Secretary  to  Council,  formerly  Military 
Superintendent  for  Taichau ; while  the  Bishop  Ning-shu  had  the 
charge  of  the  congregations  of  the  Illustrious  in  the  East. 

[The  two  lines  of  Syriac  are  in  the  Estrangelo  character,  and  run  down 
the  right  and  left  sides  of  the  Chinese  respectively.  Kircher  translates  this 
as  follows:] 

“Adam,  Deacon,  Vicar-episcopal  and  Pope  of  China. 

In  the  time  of  the  Father  of  Fathers,  the  Lord  John  Joshua,  the 
Universal  Patriarch.” 

[The  translation  of  the  Syriac  at  the  foot  of  the  stone  is  given  here  on 
the  authority  of  Kircher:] 

“In  the  year  of  the  Greeks  one  thousand  and  ninety-two,  the 
Lord  Jazedbuzid,  Priest  and  Vicar-episcopal  of  Cumdan  the  royal 
city,  son  of  the  enlightened  Mailas,  Priest  of  Balach  a city  of  Tur- 
kestan, set  up  this  tablet,  whereon  is  inscribed  the  Dispensation  of 
our  Redeemer,  and  the  preaching  of  the  apostolic  missionaries  to  the 
King  of  China.” 

[After  this,  in  Chinese  characters,  is] 

“The  Priest  Lingpau.” 

[Then  follows:] 

“Adam  the  Deacon,  son  of  Jazedbuzid,  Vicar-episcopal. 

The  Lord  Sergius,  Priest  and  Vicar-episcopal. 


20 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


Sabar  Jesus,  Priest. 

Gabriel,  Priest,  Archdeacon,  and  Ecclesiarch  of  Cumdan  and 
Sarag.” 

[The  following  subscription  is  appended  in  Chinese:] 

“Assistant  Examiner:  the  High  Statesman  of  the  Sacred  rites, 
the  Imperially-conferred-purple-gown  Chief  Presbyter  and  Priest 
Yi-li.” 

[On  the  left-hand  edge  are  the  Syriac  names  of  sixty-seven  priests,  and 
sixty-one  are  given  in  Chinese.] 


THE  HOLM-NESTORIAN  EXPEDITION  TO  SIAN 

MCMVII* 

BY  FRITS  V.  HOLM,  M.R.A.S. 

IT  is  with  the  greatest  regret  that  I have  not  been  able  to  enjoy 
the  honor  extended  to  me  by  the  President  of  the  Congress  to 
accept  his  invitation  to  be  present  at  the  deliberations  of  the  Congress 
and  there  exhibit  and  lecture  on  the  replica  of  the  Nestorian  Stone 
of  Sianfu ; but  I have  thought  fit  to  submit  a brief  statement  of  my 
work  to  the  Council,  to  be  dealt  with  as  the  President  and  his 
Council  may  decide. 

After  several  months  of  constant  study  in  the  British  Museum’s 
library,  and  due  to  a keen  interest  I have  always  taken  in  matters 
Chinese  from  my  former  residence  in  that  great  empire,  I decided 
to  undertake  an  expedition  to  the  capital  of  the  province  of  Shensi, 
Sian-fu,  known  generally  as  the  place  of  refuge  of  the  Chinese 
Court  during  and  after  the  Boxer  troubles.  I was  fortunate  enough 
to  obtain  the  necessary  financial  means  in  London  and  New  York, 
where  I arrived  in  February,  1907,  from  Europe,  and  I likewise 
found  much  moral  support  from  several  university  professors,  scien- 
tists and  museum  authorities  in  various  countries. 

The  chief  aim  of  the  expedition  was  to  proceed  to  Sianfu  and 
there  on  the  spot  examine  the  local  and  outer  relations  of  the  Nes- 
torian Stone  of  A.  D.  781,  with  a possible  view  of  purchasing  the 
ancient  monument  or  obtaining  a true  copy  or  monolith  replica  of 
the  same. 

I copy  the  following  paragraphs  from  my  book-manuscript 
(part  I)  : 

“Of  all  the  historical  monuments  near  and  in  Sianfu,  the  fa- 
mous Nestorian  Stone,  or  Chingchiaopei  as  the  natives  call  it,  un- 

* Communicated  to  the  XV.  International  Congress  of  Orientalists  at 
Copenhagen,  August  19,  1908,  to  the  Anthropological  Society  of  Washington, 
the  Explorers’  Club  of  New  York,  West  Point  Military  Academy,  Johns  Hop- 
kins University,  etc.  during  1909. 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


?? 


FRITS  V.  HOLM,  M.R.A.S. 

Standing  by  the  Nestorian  Stone  before  its  removal. 


THE  HOLM  NESTORIAN  EXPEDITION. 


23 


doubtedly  ranks  as  the  very  first.  It  is  perhaps  not  too  much  to 
say,  that  while  these  lines  are  being  written  on  the  river  Han  in 
Hupeh  province  medio  July,  1907,  the  Nestorian  Tablet,  as  it  stands 
outside  the  west  gate  of  Sian,  unheeded  and  neglected,  although 
known  to  science,  is  the  most  valuable  historical  monument  in  the 
world,  that  has  not,  as  yet,  been  acquired  by  any  museum  or  scien- 
tific society  or  corporation. 

“It  is  true  that  prints  and  photographs  have  been  taken  of  the 
famous  inscription  and  that  translations  have  been  made  and  pub- 
lished of  the  same, — but  the  stone  stands  there,  lonely,  in  all  kinds 
of  weather,  and  only  the  very  rare  traveler,  who  gets  as  far  as 
Sianfu,  or  an  occasional  missionary,  pays  the  Chingchiaopei  a visit 
of  short  duration. 

“As  already  formerly  alluded  to,  Christianity  first  came  to 
China  in  the  beginning  of  the  sixth  century  in  its  Nestorian  form 
and  was  allowed  to  flourish  during  some  three  centuries  under  the 
protection  of  the  early  emperors  of  the  famous  Tang  dynasty. 
Still  Nestorians  were  found  in  Cathay  and  Manji,  i.  e.,  North  and 
South  China,  by  Marco  Polo,  when  he  traveled  in  these  regions 
towards  the  end  of  the  thirteenth  century. 

“The  priests  of  Nestorianism  enjoyed  the  favor  of  the  court 
and  were  allowed  to  erect  churches  and  monasteries.  The  Nes- 
torian Tablet  proves  above  all  suspicion  the  early  existence  of  Chris- 
tianity in  the  Middle  Kingdom. 

“The  Chingchiaopei  is  dated  A.  D.  781  and  was  accidentally 
found  by  some  laborers  in  1625,  when  it  was  placed  on  a “fair 
pedestal”  by  the  governor  of  Shensi.  It  was  early  visited  by  many 
Chinese  who  took  an  interest  in  the  ancient  monument’s  inscription, 
which  is  marvelously  well  preserved. 

“For  decades  after,  the  stone  was  little  thought  of  and  rarely 
visited,  and  the  arch  which  had  been  built  over  it  disappeared. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  last  century  (1891)  a small  roof  was 
erected  over  the  stone  at  the  instigation  of  the  corps  diplomatique 
at  Peking,  which  had  induced  the  Tsungli  Yamen,  the  then  Foreign 
Office,  to  guard  the  monument  against  injury.  One  hundred  taels 
were  sent  to  Sianfu  from  Peking;  but  in  those  days  there  was  no 
post  office,  and  only  five  taels  reached  Sian  in  safety,  the  balance 
having  been  mysteriously  absorbed  underway.  Thus  the  shed  erected 
was  of  a very  inferior  kind  and  to-day  has  quite  disappeared.  Mr. 
W.  W.  Rockill,  the  U.  S.  Minister  to  China,  who  made  a name  for 
himself  by  journeying  in  the  Koko  Nor  Lake  district  some  fifteen 
years  ago,  told  me,  while  in  Peking,  that  “the  Chinese  thought 


24 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


quite  a good  deal  of  the  stone  and  had  a shed  erected  to  protect  it 
some  time  ago” ; but  I am  afraid  the  honorable  gentleman  would 


be  very  disappointed  to  see  the  precious  old  monument  stand  as 
naked  and  unprotected  as  its  innumerable  fellow-stones  of  minor 


REMOVAL  OF  THE  ORIGINAL  NESTORIAN  TABLET,  OCTOBER,  2,  I907. 
Photograph  by  Holm. 


THE  HOLM  NESTORIAN  EXPEDITION.  25 

value,  which  are  to  be  found  by  the  score  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
ancient  capital.  Several  translations,  more  or  less  correct,  more  or 


SS 

< 


5 

< 


O 

in 

M 


£ J3 
, o 

a k 

H-l 


H fe 


< 

§ 


U 


C/3 


less  complete,  of  the  Chinese  and  Syriac  inscriptions  have  been 
published.  The  task  of  translating  the  ca.  2000  characters  on  the 


26 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


stone  is  a very  difficult  one,  but  the  translation  by  the  well-known 
sinologist  Dr.  Wylie,*  is  generally  considered  the  best. 

“On  the  ioth  of  June,  1907,  I first  visited  the  resting-place  of  the 
unique  monument.  I went  out  alone  on  horseback  through  the  west 
gate,  traversed  the  western  suburb  and,  having  passed  some  military 
barracks  outside  the  western  suburban  gate,  had  no  difficulty  in 
finding  the  old  Buddha  temple,  on  the  premises  of  which  the  stone 
is  situated.  A large  brick  entrance  in  ruins  and  some  remnants  of 
a decayed  Loss  wall  show  the  former  large  extent  of  the  temple. 
But  to-day  we  only  find  a comparatively  modern  center  building, 
which  is  more  of  a farm  than  a temple.  Everybody  was  busy  with 
the  wheat  harvest,  even  the  three  Buddhist  priests,  and  nobody  inter- 
fered with  me  as  I walked  about  snapshooting  and  wondering  at  the 
ruinous  surroundings  of  such  an  invaluable  monument. 

“Behind  the  farm-temple  is  a piece  of  ground  where  a large 
stone  arch  and  several  memorial  slabs  are  situated.  In  a row  of 
rive  stones,  the  Chingchiaopei  is  the  fourth,  counting  towards  the 
east.  Like  most  stones  of  a similar  kind  it  stands  on  the  back  of 
a clumsily  worked  stone-tortoise,  but  nothing  is  left  of  a protecting 
shed,  and  nothing  indicates,  as  some  authors  most  likely  wrongly, 
assert,  that  the  stone  and  its  neighbors,  which  do  not  even  stand  in 
a straight  line,  have  ever  been  built  into  a brick  wall.  An  old  pic- 
ture of  the  stone  shows  it  encased  in  a kind  of  brick  niche,  and  it  is 
by  no  means  impossible  that  this  has  given  rise  to  the  wrongful 
idea  concerning  a brick  wall.  But  there  is  no  trace  of  any  niche 
around  the  tablet,  nor  of  any  later  wooden  shed,  and  the  74  years 
old  chief  priest,  who  has  been  constantly  on  the  spot  for  over  50 
years,  only  remembers  the  stone  standing  free  and  frank  and  lonely 
— looking  apart  from  the  ramshackle  shed  of  1891. 

“The  much-discussed  cross  on  the  stone  is  not  very  plain  and 
must  almost  be  searched  after  before  found,  but  the  characters  are 
beautifully  preserved  with  the  exception  of  one  or  two  which  are  said 
to  have  been  wilfully  injured  by  the  Bonzes,  who  thought  that  too 
much  attention  was  being  paid  to  this  ancient  relic  of  Christian 
fame.  Still  this  is  hardly  probable. 

“The  other  stones  on  the  temple  ground  are  of  no  immediate 
value  or  interest,  their  inscriptions  giving  the  history  of  the  farm- 
temple  and  the  names  and  titles  of  the  various  donors. 

“The  photographs  show  the  slab  to  be  very  large ; it  is  ten 

* Dr.  Wylie’s  translation,  taken  from  the  second  part  of  Dr.  S.  Wells 
Williams’s  great  work,  The  Middle  Kingdom,  precedes  this  chapter. 


THE  HOLM  NESTORIAN  EXPEDITION. 


27 


feet  high,  its  weight  being  two  tons.  The  difficulties  in  connec- 
tion with  the  transport  of  the  original  or  a replica  were  consequently 
appalling,  as  it  would  be  necessary  to  transport  the  stone  on  a 
specially  constructed  cart  over  350  miles  to  the  nearest  railway 
station,  Chengchow.” .... 


YU  SHOW,  THE  CHINESE  HIGH  PRIEST. 

Seated  where  the  Nestorian  stone  had  stood  before  its  removal. 
Photograph  by  Holm. 


I may  shortly  mention  that  I did  everything  in  my  power  to 
obtain  the  original  by  applying  to  the  local  authorities  in  an  in- 
direct manner  etc. ; but  although  the  Chinese  do  not  care  more 
to-day  for  the  stone  than  for  any  ordinary  brick,  they  at  once  got 


28 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


suspicious ; and  I might  as  well  have  endeavored  to  “lift”  the  Rosetta 
Stone  out  of  the  British  Museum,  or  take  the  Moabite  Stone  from 
the  Louvre,  as  to  carry  away  the  Chingchiaopei  from  Sian. 

I shall  not  dwell  here  on  the  almost  insurmountable  difficulties 
the  officials  and  even  some  of  the  foreign  missionaries  laid  in  my 
way  when  I decided  to  confine  my  efforts  to  obtain  and  carry  home 
to  Europe  or  America  a replica  of  the  venerable  tablet.  Suffice  it 
to  say  that  both  the  local,  the  transport  and  eventually  the  customs 
difficulties  were  all  overcome  in  due  course,  and  after  eleven  months 
on  Chinese  soil  I was  able  to  leave  Shanghai  on  the  last  day  of 
February,  1908,  bound  for  New  York. 

The  original  Nestorian  tablet  of  A.  D.  781,  as  well  as  my 
replica,  made  in  1907,  are  both  carved  from  the  stone  quarries  of 


THE  CROSS  ON  THE  NESTORIAN  STONE. 

It  is  believed  to  be  a copy  from  memory  of  the  Roman  papal  cross  of  the 

sixth  century. 

Fu  Ping  Hsien ; the  material  is  a black,  sub-granular  limestone  with 
small  oolites  scattered  through  it,  probably  dating  from  the  Carbonif- 
erous formation  of  some  15  or  20  millions  of  years  ago. 

This  replica  is  one  of  the  most  beautiful  pieces  of  Chinese  work- 
manship I have  ever  seen.  In  the  first  place  there  is  not  a measure, 
not  a character,  not  a detail  that  differs  from  the  original  tablet- 
even  the  weight  is  the  same.  In  the  second  place  this  piece  of  art 
was  executed  by  four  native  stone-cutters  in  eleven  days,  including 
polishing,  after  the  huge  slab  had  been  brought  from  the  Fuping 
quarries  to  Sian.  In  the  third  place  the  Chinese  artisans  have  been 
able  to  accomplish  the  miracle  of  carving  the  cross  and  chiseling  the 
Syriac  characters,  which  they  did  of  course  not  know,  to  absolute 
perfection. 


THE  HOLM  NESTORIAX  EXPEDITION. 


29 


On  the  16th  of  June,  1908,  in  accordance  with  arrangement  with 
Sir  Purdon  Clarke,  Director,  the  replica  was  deposited  in  the  Metro- 
politan Museum  of  Art  in  the  City  of  New  York,  as  a loan. 

Although  the  replica  is  not  yet  the  property  of  the  museum, 
there  is  a probability  that  it  may  never  leave  its  new  abode  again ; but 
the  fact  should  not  be  overlooked  that  all  museums  and  universities 
of  the  world  can  now  be  supplied,  if  so  desired,  with  plaster  casts 
of  the  Nestorian  tablet,  casts  which  would  not  be  more  accurate, 
had  they  been  taken  from  the  original  itself. 


CAVE  DWELLINGS  IN  SHENSI. 

Photograph  by  Holm. 

It  is  not  a generally  known  fact  that  in  North  China,  in  the 
provinces  of  Shansi,  Shensi,  Kansu  and  Honan,  thousands  of  Chi- 
nese families  live  all  their  lives  in  caves  dug  out  of  the  Loss.  This 
wonderful  geological  deposit  is  indeed  the  fortune  of  the  peasant 
of  North  China.  It  yields  two  harvests  a year,  the  first  a wheat-crop, 
the  second  a crop  of  maize,  millet  and  the  like.  And  when  the 
agriculturist  seeks  a home,  he  takes  his  spade  or  shovel  and  he  digs 
for  his  wife,  his  children  and  himself,  a cave  in  the  soft  Loss  wall, 
which,  although  badly  ventilated,  gives  him  a safe  shelter,  cool  in  the 


30 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


heat  of  the  summer  and  offering  a cosy  corner  during  the  harsh 
winter.  These  caves  are  almost  destitute  of  any  furniture ; some- 
times we  only  find  the  kang  or  hot  bedstead,  a “sofa”  made  of 
Loss  and  heated  from  below  with  a steady  fire,  which  cheers  the 
whole  family  and  the  rare  traveler  during  the  long  winter  night. 

Many  a time  during  my  expedition  has  it  been  necessary  for 
my  men,  my  animals  and  myself,  to  seek  the  shelter  of  an  abandoned 
cave  against  the  terrible  dust-storms  of  North  China;  and  once  I 
slept  in  a cave  with  a corpse  in  a black  coffin  as  neighbor,  while  my 
men  and  beasts  occupied  the  neighboring  cave  with  the  garde  funebre. 


THE  GATES  OF  SIANFU. 

Photograph  by  Holm. 

Three  miles  before  we  enter  the  east  gate  of  Sianfu,  which 
towers  like  a huge  castle  over  the  high  wall,  we  leave  the  last  Loss 
wall  for  some  time  to  come ; it  is  about  sixty  feet  high  and  has  an 
abundance  of  caves — in  fact  the  greater  part  of  the  population  of 
the  hamlet  of  Chilipu  lives  in  caves. 

We  may  take  it  for  granted  to-day  that  in  times  gone  by,  many 
a Nestorian  convert  was  to  be  found  as  a permanent  resident  of  these 
humble  caves. 

Once  more  to  quote  my  manuscript  (II.  part)  : 


THE  HOLM  NESTORIAX  EXPEDITION. 


31 


“The  second  day  of  October,  1907,  saw,  at  Sianfu,  the  fulfilment 
of  an  act  which  ought  to  have  taken  place  nearly  300  years  ago. 


NESTORIAN  REPLICA  BEING  UNLOADED  FROM  A FREIGHT  CAR  AT  HAN- 
KOW, JANUARY,  I908. 

Photograph  by  Holm. 

“Being  the  day  previous  to  the  final  departure  of  the  replica, 
I rode  out  to  the  farm-temple  in  order  to  supervise  various  arrange- 


32 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


ments  concerning  the  packing  of  the  stone  etc.,  and  in  order  to 
“square”  my  account  with  the  old  chief  priest  Yu  Show.  Nearing 
the  temple  grounds  I noticed  with  feelings  that  can  easier  be  imag- 
ined than  described,  that  the  original  Nestorian  Tablet  had  dis- 
appeared ! 

“I  galloped  up  to  its  former  resting-place,  and  all  I saw,  was  a 
hole  in  the  ground,  where  the  monument’s  pedestal,  the  sad-looking 
stone-tortoise  had  been  left.  The  stone  itself  had  certainly  gone, 
and  I wondered  whether  any  harm  had  befallen  the  replica  in  the 
temple-barn.  Half  a minute  brought  me  to  the  temple  where  I 
found  the  replica  in  prime  condition. 

“The  chief  priest  said  that  the  officials  had  caused  the  tablet  to 
be  moved — he  did  not  know  its  destination.  So,  my  business  over, 
I rode  back  through  the  western  suburb,  promising  to  come  back 
the  next  day  to  see  the  replica  off. 

“About  half  way  between  the  suburb  and  the  city  gates  I over- 
took the  Nestorian  Tablet,  which  was  being  slowly  carried  by  no 
less  than  48  coolies  towards  the  city.  They  carried  it,  hanging  under 
a multitude  of  bamboo  yokes , in  the  same  way  heavy  coffins  are 
usually  transported. 

“The  ‘Peilin,’  or  ‘forest  of  tablets,’  a place  where  innumerable 
small  and  large  tablets  with  inscriptions  of  great  age  are  kept,  was 
the  destination  of  the  Chingchiaopei.  The  ‘Peilin’  is  a place  of  great 
interest,  and  it  is  well-nigh  incredible  that  the  officials  on  the  spot 
had  never  thought  of  moving  the  stone  thither. 

“The  repeated,  earnest  representations  of  the  corps  diplomatique 
and  the  missionary  bodies  in  Peking  for  the  preservation  of  the 
ancient  Christian  relic  had,  through  years,  proved  futile.  The  mis- 
sionaries on  the  spot  had  done  next  to  nothing  to  preserve  “their” 
venerable  tablet.  It  was  therefore  a great  satisfaction  to  me  to 
know  that  my  expedition  had  been  the  direct  cause  for  the  removal 
of  the  stone  to  a place,  where  it  will  not  be  exposed  to  wind  and 
weather,  and  where  it  will  stand  a fair  chance  of  being  able  to 
adequately  fight  a long,  long  battle  against  age  and  time.” 


THE  EXPLOITS  OF  MR.  FRITS  V.  HOLM. 

BY  THE  EDITOR  OF  “THE  SHANGHAI  TIMES.” 

Mr.  Holm,  the  enterprising  young  Danish  traveler  who  on  an- 
other page  gives  an  account  of  his  recent  Nestorian  expedition  to 
Sian-fu,  certainly  deserves  the  heartiest  congratulations  on  the  success 
of  his  very  notable  achievement.  Although  the  rare  value  of  his 


THE  HOLM  NESTORIAN  EXPEDITION. 


33 


prize,  the  earliest  Christian  monument  in  China  dating  from  781 
A.  D.,  has  long  been  acknowledged  by  students  and  missionaries, 
he  is  the  first  who  has  had  the  enterprise  to  cause  a copy  to  be  made 
and  conveyed  to  the  Western  world.  Casts  of  this  replica  may  now 
be  made  as  frequently  as  there  is  any  demand  for  them,  with  as  ab- 
solute accuracy  as  if  made  from  the  original  stone  which  is  now 
jealously  guarded  in  the  most  remote  quarter  of  the  earth. 

Mr.  Holm,  who  was  only  twenty-five  when  he  started  on  his  ex- 
pedition, was  formerly  special  correspondent  to  the  London  Tribune 
in  China,  prior  to  which  period  he  had  received  an  officer’s  educa- 
tion in  the  Royal  Danish  Navy,  and  so  was  already  a traveler  and  ex- 
plorer of  repute  when  he  entered  on  this  latest  mission.  It  was  in 
London  in  the  early  part  of  1907  that  he  formed  the  idea  of  pro- 
curing a replica  of  the  famous  tablet  with  the  scientific  and  historical 
value  of  which  he  had  made  himself  acquainted  during  his  previous 
residence  in  China.  Obtaining  the  support  of  some  friends,  whom 
he  persuaded  of  the  feasibility  of  his  plans,  he  came  out  to  China 
again,  and  proceeded  to  Tientsin,  where  he  completed  his  final  prep- 
arations for  the  expedition.  He  left  Tientsin  in  company  with  two 
Chinese  attendants,  an  interpreter  and  a boy,  on  the  2d  of  May,  1907, 
and  traveled  in  a house-boat  to  Taokow,  where  the  Peking  Syndicate 
had  an  establishment,  and  thence  continued  his  journey  on  horseback 
westward  to  Weichingfu  and  Honanfu,  where  he  organized  a regular 
caravan.  Setting  out  again  when  all  was  ready,  he  reached  his  des- 
tination, Sianfu,  on  the  30th  of  May,  and  then  proceeded  cautiously 
to  put  his  long-cherished  plan  into  execution. 

Taking  up  his  quarters  as  unostentatiously  as  possible  he  en- 
gaged the  services  of  a skilled  Chinese  draughtsman  and  three  stone- 
cutters, explained  to  them  what  he  wanted,  and  made  a bargain  to 
pay  them  150  taels  (about  $100)  for  an  exact  copy  of  the  famous 
tablet.  The  contractors,  as  they  may  be  called,  were  obliged  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  task  very  cautiously  indeed.  First  of  all  a suitable 
piece  of  stone  had  to  be  procured;  Mr.  Holm  stipulating  for  a slab 
of  the  same  material  and  dimensions  as  the  original.  This  being 
procured,  it  had  to  be  conveyed  to  a shed  without  attracting  notice, 
which  was  done ; it  then  had  to  be  shaped  and  dressed,  and  afterward 
the  stone-cutters,  chiseling  from  the  marvelously  accurate  drawings 
of  the  Chinese  draughtsman,  slowly  and  tediously  proceeded  with 
the  task  of  carving  it. 

It  is  said  that  the  foreigners  in  Sian,  missionaries  all  with  one 
exception,  did  not  view  the  enterprise  with  any  great  favor ; still  no 
opposition  was  offered  and  at  length  it  was  finished. 


34 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


Mr.  Holm  was  then  in  Hankow,  having  gone  there  for  various 
reasons,  among  them  ill-health,  after  the  work  had  been  fairly  started 
in  Sian.  On  hearing  of  the  completion  of  the  undertaking,  he 
hastened  back  to  the  Shensi  capital,  invited  the  Chinese  officials  to 
inspect  the  replica,  which  they  did,  and  finally,  after  much  nego- 
tiation, succeeded  in  obtaining  permission  to  take  it  away.  Mr. 
Holm,  it  may  be  mentioned,  is  the  only  foreigner  so  far,  who  has 
been  officially  received  by  the  mandarins  of  the  Shensi  Foreign 
Office  in  their  yamen,  where  he  was  most  courteously  and  consid- 
erately treated  by  the  President  and  members  of  the  Provincial  Board 
of  Foreign  Affairs. 

The  conveyance  of  the  great  stone  from  Sian  to  Hankow  was 
an  immense  undertaking.  First  of  all  it  took  24  coolies  to  lift  it 
from  the  ground  and  place  it  on  the  heavy  cart  which  had  been 
specially  constructed  to  carry  it  to  Chengchow,  Honan,  where  it  was 
put  on  a railway  truck  and  by  that  means  taken  to  Hankow. 

Here,  according  to  statements  made  by  Mr.  Holm  himself, 
his  troubles  really  began,  and  strange  to  relate,  it  was  not  from 
Chinese  officials  they  proceeded,  but  from  the  foreign  Commissioner 
of  Customs,  a Mr.  Aglen.  For  some  unexplained  reason  this  gentle- 
man seized  the  stone  and  impounded  it,  instructing  Messrs.  Jardine, 
Matheson  & Co.  not  to  let  it  leave  their  premises  on  any  account 
until  they  heard  further  from  him. 

Sir  Robert  Hart,  who  knew  of  Mr.  Holm’s  enterprise  from  his- 
own  narrative,  issued  instructions  that  the  stone  was  to  be  restored 
to  the  owner,  for  him  to  do  what  he  liked  with  it. 

Mr.  Holm  then  returned  to  Hankow,  obtained  possession  of 
the  great  piece  of  work  once  more,  shipped  it  on  board  the  “Loong- 
wo”  to  Shanghai,  where  it  was  put  on  board  the  s.  s.  “Kennebec” 
for  final  conveyance  to  New  York  via  the  Suez  Canal,  a voyage  of 
about  15,000  miles. 


NESTORIUS  AND  THE  NESTORIANS. 


THE  Nestorian  Church  is  a sect  which  calls  itself  Chaldaean 
Christianity.  In  its  doctrines  it  follows  Nestorius,  who  was 
patriarch  of  Constantinople  (428-431)  where  for  three  years  he 
exercised  an  unusual  power  but  succumbed  in  the  conflict  with  his 
rival  Cyril  of  Alexandria  mainly  through  the  enmity  of  Pulcheria, 
the  influential  sister  of  Emperor  Theodosius  II. 

Nestorius,  a disciple  of  Theodorus  of  Mopsuestia,  had  been 
ordained  a presbyter  at  Antioch  and  in  his  theology  he  followed 
the  austere  traditions  of  the  Antiochian  school.  When  called  to 
Constantinople  as  patriarch  he  came  with  the  intention  of  establish- 
ing the  “pure  doctrine.”  In  his  installation  sermon  before  the 
emperor,  he  said : “Give  me  a country  cleansed  of  heretics  and  I 
will  return  heaven  to  you  in  its  place.  Help  me  to  overcome  heretics 
and  I will  help  you  to  conquer  the  Persians.” 

Nestorius  combined  with  his  zeal  for  the  truth  the  awkwardness 
of  the  monk  who  was  not  fitted  to  cope  with  the  complicated  con- 
ditions at  the  capital,  the  power  of  the  emperor  as  head  of  the  Church, 
the  intrigue  of  the  Byzantine  court  and  the  influence  of  the  masses. 
He  had  offended  Pulcheria,  who  under  the  title  Augusta,  shared  with 
her  brother  the  Emperor,  the  honors  of  imperial  power.  While 
Theodosius  favored  Nestorius,  she,  the  Augusta,  sided  with  his 
enemy,  the  wily  Bishop  of  Alexandria. 

In  those  days  dogmatic  subtleties  and  theological  terms  became 
issues  of  great  controversies  and  Nestorius  took  special  exception  to 
the  name  “Mother  of  God”  which  was  commonly  attributed  to  Mary. 
The  term  was  an  old  pagan  expression  and  is  a literal  translation  of 
the  Egyptian  Neter  Mut  by  which  pagan  devotees  addressed  the 
goddess  Isis. 

A presbyter  of  Nestorius,  Anastasius  of  Antioch,  who  had  ac- 
companied his  master  to  Constantinople,  once  preached  a sermon 


36 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


in  which  he  declared,  “Call  ye  not  Mary,  mother  of  God,  for  she  was 
but  human  and  God  cannot  be  born  of  a human  being.1 

These  words  gave  great  offense,  for  the  term  “Mother  of  God” 
was  very  dear  to  the  Egyptian  Church  and  had  been  adopted  by  the 
other  congregations.  But  Nestorius  supported  his  presbyter  and 
thereby  was  implicated  in  a struggle  with  the  worshipers  of  Mary. 
He  was  accused  of  splitting  up  the  personality  of  Christ  into  two 
separate  beings,  Christ  born  of  God  in  eternity,  and  the  human  Jesus, 
son  of  Mary. 

Cyril  succeeded  in  having  Nestorius  condemned  at  the  council 
of  Ephesus  in  431  before  all  the  members  had  assembled,  among 
them  his  friend,  Johannes,  the  Bishop  of  Antioch,  who  arrived  too 
late  to  undo  the  mischief  that  had  been  done.  The  emperor  pro- 
tested arid  declared  the  council  as  illegal.  But  Cyril  had  gained  a 
powerful  ally  in  the  person  of  the  Archimandrite  Dalmatius,  a 
hermit  who  had  stayed  in  his  cell  for  forty  years  and  was  reverenced 
by  the  masses  of  the  people  as  a saint.  He  stirred  the  populace  and 
intimidated  the  Emperor.  After  several  vain  attempts  to  reconcile 
the  two  parties,  the  Emperor  yielded  to  the  insistent  protestations 
of  the  numerous  supporters  of  Cyril  and  had  Nestorius  deposed. 

The  expelled  patriarch  lived  for  four  years  in  the  monastery  of 
Euprepius  near  Antioch,  where  he  still  exercised  considerable  in- 
fluence on  the  Syrian  Church  so  as  to  rouse  the  suspicion  of  his 
enemies.  Accordingly  he  was  removed  into  more  out  of  the  way 
places.  One  edict  ordered  him  to  be  sent  to  Petra  in  Arabia,  but 
according  to  Socrates,  the  Church  historian,  he  was  deported  to  one 
of  the  Egyptian  oases.  When  this  was  raided  by  a Blemnyan  desert 
tribe  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  barbarians,  who  however  treated 
their  venerable  prisoner  with  consideration  and  even  respect.  Later 
on  we  find  him  in  Panopolis.  In  his  last  years  he  was  dragged 
about  from  place  to  place  in  the  confines  of  Egypt  like  a common 
criminal  under  the  supervision  of  Egyptian  guards.  He  wrote  the 
story  of  his  life  under  the  title  “Tragedy”  which  was  known  and 
utilized  by  Irenseus  who  admired  him  greatly  for  his  noble  character, 
his  patience  and  Christian  piety.  An  extract  of  this  same  book  of 
Nestorius  exists  in  a manuscript  preserved  in  the  Abbey  at  Monte 
Cassino,  published  in  the  Synodikon  by  Lupus.2 

Nestorius  had  been  crushed  and  he  died  in  the  power  of  his 
enemies  who  embittered  the  end  of  his  life,  but  the  problem  he  had 
raised  continued  to  upset  the  Church  for  a long  time.  He  had  many 

1 Socrates,  Hist.  Ec.,  VII,  chap.  32. 

2 A reprint  of  the  manuscript  is  also  found  in  Mansi  Concil.  T.  V . 


NESTORIUS  AND  THE  N ESTORI AN S. 


37 


friends  and  disciples  among  his  parishioners  at  Constantinople,  but 
in  Syria  his  adherents  predominated  and  the  bitterness  with  which 
they  were  condemned  by  Cyril’s  party  led  to  a schism  and  the 
establishment  of  an  independent  Syrian  Church.  The  Nestorians 
of  Syria  recognized  the  bishop  of  Seleucia  as  their  head,  under  the 
name  of  Catholicus. 

These  Syrian  Christians  shared  the  fervor  and  missionary  zeal 
of  their  founder  Nestorius.  They  distinguished  themselves  through 


THE  CROSS  ON  THE  TOMB  OF  ST.  THOMAS  NEAR  MADRAS.3 

learnedness  and  established  good  schools  wherever  they  went.  Their 
main  seat  and  center  of  learning  was  Nisibis.  The  Nestorians  sent 
out  missionaries  toward  the  East  and  extended  their  Church  into 
Mesopotamia,  Persia,  India  and  Tibet. 

The  Indian  Nestorians  are  commonly  called  St.  Thomas  Chris- 
tians, and  there  is  a remarkable  monument  left  of  them  near  Madras 

3 It  may  be  of  interest  to  note  that  the  cross  preserved  on  the  Nestorian 
stone  bears  a great  resemblance  to  that  on  the  tomb  of  St.  Thomas  the  Apostle, 
near  Madras,  India,  which  for  good  reasons  is  assumed  to  date  from  the  same 
century.  Marco  Polo’s  interesting  account  of  it  can  be  found  in  Chapter 
XVIII  of  his  well-known  book  of  travel.  We  reproduce  the  picture  from 
Page  353  of  the  edition  of  Henry  Yule  published  by  Charles  Scribner’s  Sons. 


38 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


which  is  mentioned  by  Marco  Polo  and  is  regarded  as  the  tomb  of 
St.  Thomas,  the  first  Christian  apostle  to  India. 

Nestorian  Christians  upon  the  whole  follow  the  ritual  of  the 
Greek  Church.  Part  of  them  united  later  on  with  the  Roman  Church 
and  are  now  commonly  called  United  Nestorians.  Their  patriarch 
calls  himself  Mar  Joseph  and  his  residence  is  Diarbekr,  the  ancient 
Amida  in  the  valley  of  the  upper  Tigris.  The  others  who  have  re- 
mained independent  recognize  as  their  Catholicus,  a patriarch  who 
bears  the  name  Mar  Simeon,  residing  at  Kotchannas  near  Julamerk 
in  the  upper  valley  of  the  greater  Zab,  in  the  territory  of  the  Hak- 
kiare,  a tribe  of  the  Kurds.  They  are  strongly  under  Russian  in- 
fluence and  it  is  not  impossible  that  in  time  they  will  join  the  Greek 
Church. 

At  present  the  Nestorians  are  weak  in  numbers  and  influence. 
They  may  not  be  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  souls, 
but  in  former  days  they  were  a flourishing  Church,  and  for  a time 
it  seemed  as  if  Nestorian  Christianity  would  be  the  state  religion  of 
Tibet. 

From  Tibet  Nestorian  Christianity  spread  even  into  China  where 
it  was  welcomed  by  the  emperor  and  had  a fair  chance  of  competing 
with  Buddhism  and  Confucianism  for  supremacy.  It  is  still  an  un- 
solved problem  how  this  once  so  powerful  Church  could  disappear 
without  leaving  a trace  in  the  minds  of  the  people  . We  do  not  yet 
know  in  detail  how  Nestorianism  lost  its  hold  on  the  Tibetans  and 
the  Chinese.  We  would  scarcely  believe  how  influential  they  once 
were  in  the  center  of  Asia  had  not  a happy  accident  brought  to 
light  that  remarkable  slab  which  bears  witness  to  former  Nestorian 
activitv  in  China.  P.  C. 


THE  NESTORIANS  IN  CHINA. 


ACCORDING  TO  THE  LATE  S.  WELLS  WILLIAMS. 


[S.  Wells  Williams,  late  professor  of  the  Chinese  Language  and  Literature 
at  Yale  College,  in  his  valuable  work  The  Middle  Kingdom , Vol.  II,  Chapter 
XIX,  speaks  of  the  Christian  missions  in  China,  and  since  the  book  is  not 
very  accessible  to  our  readers  we  collect  here  those  portions  which  refer  to 
the  Nestorians  in  China.  Bracketed  passages  are  a condensation.  The  other 
paragraphs  are  direct  quotations  from  The  Middle  Kingdom. — Ed.] 

HE  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Nestorians  in  China  cannot  be 


JL  specified  certainly,  but  there  are  grounds  for  placing  it  as  early 
as  A.  D.  505:  Ebedjesus  Sobiensis  remarks  that  “the  Catholicos 
Salibazacha  created  the  metropolitan  sees  of  Sina  and  Samarcand, 
though  some  say  they  were  constituted  by  Achseus  and  Silas.” 
Silas  was  patriarch  of  the  Nestorians  from  A.  D.  505  to  520;  and 
Achaeus  was  archbishop  at  Seleucia  in  415.  The  metropolitan  bishop 
of  Sina  is  also  mentioned  in  a list  of  those  subject  to  this  patriarch, 
published  by  Amro,  and  it  is  placed  in  the  list  after  that  of  India, 
according  to  the  priority  of  foundation. 

The  only  record  yet  found  in  China  itself  of  the  labors  of  the 
Nestorians  is  the  celebrated  monument  which  was  discovered  at 
Si-ngan  fu  in  Shensi,  in  1625 ; and  though  the  discussion  regarding 
its  authenticity  has  been  rather  warm  between  the  Jesuits  and  their 
opponents,  the  weight  of  evidence,  both  internal  and  external,  leaves 
no  doubt  regarding  its  verity.  It  has  been  found  quite  recently  to 
be  in  good  preservation,  and  rubbings  taken  from  it  are  nearly  per- 
fect. The  Syriac  characters  composing  the  signatures  of  Olopun 
and  his  associates  have  made  it  an  object  of  much  interest  to  the 
natives ; these,  as  well  as  the  singular  cross  on  its  top,  have  doubtless 
contributed  to  its  preservation.  It  was  set  up  in  1859  by  a Chinese 
who  had  so  much  regard  for  it  as  to  rebuild  it  in  the  brick  wall 


40 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


where  it  had  once  stood  outside  of  the  city.1  The  slab  is  a hard  black 
limestone. 

It  has  been  often  translated  since  the  first  attempt  by  Boime, 
published  with  the  original  by  Kircher  in  Holland.  In  1845  Dr. 
E.  C.  Bridgman  published  Kircher’s  Latin  translation  with  the 
French  version  of  Dalquie,  and  another  of  his  own,  which  brought 
it  more  into  notice.  The  style  is  very  terse,  and  the  exact  meaning 
not  easily  perceived  even  by  learned  natives.  As  Dr.  Bridgman 
says,  “Were  a hundred  Chinese  students  employed  on  the  document 
they  would  probably  each  give  a different  view  of  the  meaning  in 
some  parts  of  the  inscription.”  This  is  apparent  when  four  or  five 
of  them  are  compared.  The  last  one,  by  A.  Wylie,  of  the  London 
Mission  at  Shanghai,  goes  over  the  whole  subject  with  a fulness 
and  care  which  leaves  little  to  be  desired.2 

Timothy,  a patriarch,  sent  Subchal-Jesus  in  780,  who  labored 
in  Tartary  and  China  for  many  years,  and  lost  his  life  on  his  return, 
when  his  place  was  supplied  by  Davidis,  who  was  consecrated  metro- 
politan. In  the  year  845  an  edict  of  Wu-tsung  commanded  the 
priests  that  belonged  to  the  sect  that  came  from  Ta  Tsin,  amount- 
ing to  no  less  than  three  thousand  persons,  to  retire  to  private  life. 
The  two  Arabian  travelers  in  the  ninth  century  report  that  many 
Christians  perished  in  the  siege  of  Canfu.  Marco  Polo’s  frequent 
allusions  lead  us  to  conclude  that  the  Nestorians  were  both  numerous 
and  respected. 

He  mentions  the  existence  of  a church  at  Hangchau,  and  two 
at  Chinkiang,  built  by  the  prefect  Marsarchis,  who  was  himself  a 
member  of  that  church,  and  alludes  to  their  residence  in  most  of 
the  towns  and  countries  of  Central  Asia. 

The  existence  of  a Christian  prince  called  Prester  John,  in 
Central  Asia,  is  spoken  of  by  Marco  Polo  and  Montecorvino.  The 
exact  position  of  his  dominions,  and  the  extent  of  his  influence  in 
favor  of  that  faith,  have  been  examined  by  Col.  Yule  and  M.  Pau- 
thier  in  their  editions  of  the  Venetian,  and  the  glamor  which  once 
surrounded  him  has  been  found  to  have  arisen  mostly  from  hearsay 
reports,  and  from  confounding  different  persons  under  one  name. 

1 This  statement  appears  to  be  a mistake  as  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Frits  V. 
Holm.  See  p.  27. 

2Visdelou  in  Bibliotheque  Oriental , Vol.  IV.  Kircher’s  China  Illustrata, 
Part  I,  Antwerp,  1667.  Chinese  Repository,  XIV,  pp.  201-229.  Hue,  Chris- 
tianity in  China,  I,  pp.  49-58:  Wylie,  North  China  Herald,  1855,  reprinted  in 
Journal  of  Am.  Oriental  Soc.,  Vol.  V,  p.  277.  Archimandrite  Palladius  pub- 
lished a Russian  version.  Williamson,  Journeys  in  North  China,  I,  p.  382.  Le 
Calholicisme  en  Chine  au  Vllle  Siccle  de  notre  ere  avec  une  nouvelle  traduc- 
tion de  l’ inscription  de  Sy-nganfou,  par  P.  D.  de  Thiersant,  Paris,  1877. 


THE  NESTORIANS  IN  CHINA. 


41 


When  the  conquests  of  Genghis  khan  and  his  descendants  threw 
all  Asia  into  commotion,  this  Prester  John,  ruler  of  the  Kara  Kitai 
Tartars  in  northern  China,  fell  before  him,  A.  D.  1203.  The  Nes- 
torians  suffered  much,  but  maintained  a precarious  footing  in  China 
during  the  time  of  the  Yuen  dynasty,  having  been  cut  off  from  all 
help  and  intercourse  with  the  mother  church  since  the  rise  of  the 
Moslems.  They  had  ceased  long  before  this  period  to  maintain  the 
purity  of  the  faith,  however,  and  had  apparently  done  nothing  to 
teach  and  diffuse  the  Bible,  which  the  tablet  intimates  was  in  part 
or  in  whole  translated  by  Olopun,  under  the  Emperor’s  auspices. 

At  the  present  time  no  works  composed  by  their  priests,  or  re- 
mains of  any  churches  belonging  to  them  or  buildings  erected  by 
them,  are  known  to  exist  in  the  Empire,  though  perhaps  some  books 
may  yet  be  found.  The  buildings  erected  by  the  Nestorians  for 
churches  and  dwellings  were,  of  course,  no  better  built  than  other 
Chinese  edifices,  and  would  not  long  remain  when  deserted ; while, 
to  account  still  further  for  the  absence  of  books,  the  Buddhists  and 
other  opposers  may  have  sought  out  and  destroyed  such  as  existed, 
which  even  if  carefully  kept  would  not  last  many  generations.  The 
notices  of  the  tablet  in  Chinese  authors,  which  Mr.  Wylie  has  brought 
together,  prove  that  those  waiters  had  confounded  the  King  kiao 
with  Zoroastrianism  and  Manicheism,  and  such  a confusion  is  not 
surprising.  The  records  of  futurity  alone  will  disclose  to  us  the 
names  and  labors  of  the  devoted  disciples  and  teachers  of  true  Chris- 
tianity in  the  Nestorian  church,  who  lived  and  died  for  the  gospel 
among  the  Chinese. 

[Williams  further  states  that  during  the  thirteenth  century 
Roman  Catholic  missionaries  came  to  China  and  the  history  of  their 
zealous  and  successful  work  can  be  learned  from  their  own  writings, 
especially  their  Lettres  Edidantes  and  Annales  de  la  foi  as  well  as 
in  the  works  of  Hue  and  Marshall  in  later  times.  Corvino,  a Roman 
Catholic  missionary,  arrived  in  India  in  1291  and  thence  proceeded 
in  1292  with  a caravan  to  China  where  he  was  kindly  received  by 
Kublai  Khan.  He  came  in  contact  with  the  native  Chinese  Chris- 
tians, but  they  were  by  no  means  pleased  at  his  arrival.  The  Nes- 
torians opposed  his  progress  for  eleven  years  and  hampered  him  in 
his  work  whenever  they  could,  but  he  built  churches  and  baptized 
nearly  6000  persons  in  spite  of  their  opposition. 

Little  or  nothing  is  known  concerning  the  further  history  of  the 
Nestorians.  The  Roman  Catholics  made  some  progress,  and  the 
last  Mongol  Emperor  Shun  Ti  sent  a European  by  the  name  of 
Andre  as  ambassador  to  the  Pope  with  a letter  from  the  Alain 


42 


THE  NESTORIAN  MONUMENT. 


Christians  asking  for  a bishop  to  take  Corvino’s  place.  Pope  Bene- 
dict XII  responded  by  sending  four  nuntios.] 

It  would  seem  that  during  the  sway  of  the  Mongol  princes 
these  missionaries  carried  on  their  work  chiefly  among  their  tribes. 
It  is,  if  such  was  the  case,  less  surprising,  therefore,  that  we  hear 
nothing  of  them  and  their  converts  after  the  Chinese  troops  had 
expelled  Kublai’s  weak  descendants  from  the  country  in  1368,  since 
they  would  naturally  follow  them  into  Central  Asia.  After  the  final 
establishment  of  the  Ming  dynasty  almost  nothing  is  known  con- 
cerning either  them  or  the  Nestorians,  and  it  is  probable  that  during 
the  wanderings  of  the  defeated  Mongols  the  adherents  of  both  sects 
gradually  lapsed  into  ignorance  and  thence  easily  into  Moham- 
medanism and  Buddhism.  There  is  no  reasonable  doubt,  however, 
that  during  the  three  centuries  ending  with  the  accession  of  Plungwu 
the  greater  part  of  Central  Asia  and  Northern  China  was  the  scene 
of  many  flourishing  Christian  communities. 


THE  TRAVELS  IN 

Tartary, Thibet  and  China 

of  Mm.  Hue  and  Gabet 

ioo  Illustrations.  688  Pages. 

CLOTH,  2 Vols.,  $2.00  (10s.) — Same,  1 Vol.,  $1.25,  Net  (5s.  net.) 

Read  the  Following  Commendatory  Notices: 

“For  forty  years  it  has  been  one  of  the  world’s  greatest  books.”— Western 
Christian  Advocate. 

“A  treasury  of  information  for  the  student  of  comparative  religion,  eth- 
nology, geography  and  natural  history.” — The  Outlook. 

1 ‘ The  work  made  a profound  sensation.  Although  China  and  the  other  coun- 
tries of  the  Orient  have  been  opened  to  foreigners  in  larger  measure  in  recent 
years,  few  observers  as  keen  and  as  well  qualified  to  put  their  observations 
in  finished  form  have  appeared,  and  M.  Hue’s  story  remains  among  the  best 
sources  of  information  concerning  the  Thibetans  and  Mongolians.” — The 
Watchman. 

“These  reprints  ought  to  have  a large  sale.  It  would  be  a good  time  for 
the  Catholic  libraries  to  add  them  to  their  stock  of  works  on  travel.  They 
will  find  that  few  books  will  have  more  readers  than  the  missionary  adven- 
tures of  Abbe  Hue  and  his  no  less  daring  companion.” — The  Catholic  News. 

“Our  readers  will  remember  the  attempt  of  Mr.  A.  Henry  Savage  Landor, 
the  explorer,  to  explore  the  mysteries  of  the  holy  city  of  L’hassa,  in  Thibet. 
The  narrative  of  the  frightful  tortures  he  suffered  when  the  Thibetans  pene- 
trated his  disguise,  has  been  told  by  Mr.  Landor  himself.  But  where  Mr. 
Landor  failed,  two  very  clever  French  missionaries  succeeded.  Father  Hue 
and  Father  Gabet,  disguised  as  Lamas,  entered  the  sacred  city,  and  for  the 
first  time  the  eyes  of  civilized  men  beheld  the  shocking  religious  ceremonials 
of  L’hassa.’'-— New  York  Journal. 

“Fools,  it  is  known,  dash  in  where  angels  fear  to  tread,  and  there  are  also 
instances  of  missionaries  dashing  in  where  intrepid  and  experienced  travelers 
fail.  Such  was  the  case  with  MM.  Hue  and  Gabet,  the  two  mild  and  modest 
French  priests  who,  fifty  years  ago,  without  fuss,  steadily  made  their  untor- 
tured way  from  China  across  Thibet  and  entered  L’hassa  with  the  message 
of  Christianity  on  their  lips.  It  is  true  that  they  were  not  allowed  to  stay  there 
as  long  as  they  had  hoped,  but  they  were  in  the  Forbidden  Land  and  the 
Sacred  City  for  a sufficient  time  to  gather  enough  facts  to  make  an  interest- 
ing and  very  valuable  book,  which  on  its  appearance  in  the  forties  (both  in 
France  and  England)  fascinated  our  fathers  much  in  the  way  that  the  writ- 
ings of  Nansen  and  Stanley  have  fascinated  us.  To  all  readers  of  Mr.  Landor’s 
new  book  who  wish  to  supplement  the  information  concerning  the  Forbidden 
Land  there  given,  we  can  recommend  the  work  of  M.  Hue.  Time  cannot 
mar  the  interest  of  his  and  M.  Gabet ’s  daring  and  successful  enterprise.” — 
The  Academy  London. 

THE  OPEN  COURT  PUBLISHING  CO. 

London:  Kegan  Paul,  Trench,  Triibner  & Co. 


BOOKS  ON  CHINA  ITS  philosophy, 

RELIGION)  lan- 
guage, LITERATURE,  LIFE  AND  CUSTOMS.  : : 


T’AI-SHANG  KAN-YING  P’lEN,  Treatise  of  the  Exalted  One 
on  Response  and  Retribution.  Translated  from  the  Chinese  by 
Teitaro  Suzuki  and  Dr.  Paul  Carus.  Containing  Chinese  Text,.  Ver- 
batim Translation,  Explanatory  Notes  and  Moral  Tales.  Edited  by 
Dr.  Paul  Carus.  16  plates.  Pp.  135.  1906.  Boards,  75c  net. 

“The  book  is  not  only  interesting,  but  instructive  as  well,  and  should 
have  a place  in  every  religious  or  philosophical  library.” — The  Tyler  Pub.  Co. 

YIN  CHIH  WEN,  The  Tract  of  the  Quiet  Way.  With  Extracts 
from  the  Chinese  Commentary.  Translated  by  Teitaro  Suzuki  and 
Dr.  Paul  Carus.  1906.  Circa  50  pages.  Boards,  25c  net. 

“This  is  a short  Chinese  tract  containing  many  noble  ethical  sentiments, 
inculcations  of  charity,  truthfulness,  nobleness  of  character,  and  other 
features.” — Methodist  Book  and  Pub.  House. 

LAO-TZE’S  TAO-TEH-KING  Chinese-English.  With 

Introduction,  Transliteration,  and  Notes.  By  Dr.  Paul  Carus.  With 
a photogravure  frontispiece  of  the  traditional  picture  of  Lao-Tze, 
specially  drawn  for  the  work  by  an  eminent  Japanese  artist.  Ap- 
propriately bound  in  yellow  and  blue,  with  gilt  top.  Pp.  345.  Price, 
$3.00  (15s.). 

Contains : ( 1 ) A philosophical,  biographical,  and  historical  in- 

troduction discussing  Lao-Tze’s  system  of  metaphysics,  its  evolution, 
its  relation  to  the  philosophy  of  the  world,  Lao-Tze’s  life,  and  the 
literary  history  of  his  work;  (2)  Lao-Tze’s  Tao-Teh-King  in  the 
original  Chinese;  (3)  An  English  translation;  (4)  The  translitera- 
tion of  the  text,  where  every  Chinese  word  with  its  English  equiva- 
lent is  given,  with  references  in  each  case  to  a Chinese  dictionary ; 
(5)  Notes  and  Comments;  (6)  Index. 

“Allow  me  to  congratulate  you  on  your  capacity  for  seeing  into  mill 
stones.  It  is  truly  phenomenal.” — Rev.  Arthur  H.  Smith , American  Board 
Mission. 

“It  goes  without  saying  that  the  task  of  obtaining  sufficient  acquaintance 
with  the  Chinese  language  to  translate,  under  the  conditions  named,  a book 
like  that  of  Lao-Tze  is  a gigantic  one.  Dr.  Carus’s  success  is  little  short  of 
marvelous.  He  frequently  cites  the  versions  of  others,  but  in  the  extracts 
given,  it  seems  clear  that  Dr.  Carus  has  succeeded  better  than  Dr.  Legge  or 
Dr.  Chalmers  in  the  passages  where  we  are  apt  to  compare  them — a very 
remarkable  fact  indeed.” — North  China  Daily  News. 

THE  CANON  OF  REASON  AND  VIRTUE  (LAO-TZE’S 
TAO-TEH-KING).  Translated  from  the  Chinese  by  Paul  Carus. 
1903.  25c,  mailed  28c.  (is.  6d.)  Pp.  iv,  138. 


J 


THE  CHINESE  LANGUAGE  AND  HOW  TO  LEARN  IT.  ~A 

Manual  for  Beginners,  by  Sir  Walter  Hillier,  K.  C.  M.  G..  C.  B. 
A new  Chinese  grammar  has  appeared  which,  as  we  learn  from  pri- 
vate sources,  is  being  used  officially  by  the  English  authorities  for 
the  preparation  of  their  candidates  for  office  in  the  English  colonies 
of  China.  Pp.  263.  $3.75  net. 

“I  think  Hillier’s  book  a great  improvement  on  all  that  has  been  publish- 
ed in  this  direction,  not  excepting  Sir  Thomas  Wade’s  celebrated  ‘Tzti-er-chi,’ 
and  I propose  to  recommend  it  to  my  own  students  as  well  as  to  the  out- 
siders who  every  now  and  then  apply  to  me  for  advice  in  their  studies.” — 
Friedrich  Hirih , Columbia  University , New  York  City. 

CHINESE  PHILOSOPHY:  Being  an  Exposition  of  the  Main  Char- 
acteristic Features  of  Chinese  Thought.  By  Dr.  Paul  Carus.  Pp. 
64.  Numerous  diagrams  and  native  characters  and  illustrations. 
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CHINESE  THOUGHT:  An  Exposition  of  the  Main  Characteristic 
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